Overview

Dutch trains: Regional and Intercity

Intercity are domestic trains operated by NS, the Dutch national railway, in the Netherlands. The trains, also known as IC, make stops between major cities. Intercity trains exist as single decker and double decker, both equipped with first and second class carriages. Many IC offer free Wi-Fi Internet on board. Seat reservations are not mandatory.
Other regional trains include the Sprinter. They are mostly used to connect major cities to smaller towns. Sprinter trains are mostly modern trains equipped with first class and second class carriages. A double decker version of the Sprinter train is also operated by NS. As in the Intercity trains, seat reservations are not mandatory.

Note: A supplement is needed when travelling on the Amsterdam Schiphol-Rotterdam route with the Intercity direct.

FAQ's

Common Questions, Simple Answers

Q. What fees does Rail Europe charge?

A. Rail Europe charges different types of fees for the services we provide. These fees are waived under certain circumstances. Below is a list of the fees we charge.

Delivery Fee: this fee covers the cost of delivering your travel documents to you, allowing you to relax, knowing that you have everything you need prior to your departure.

Customer Care Centre Fee: this fee is charged only when bookings are made over the phone through one of our Customer Care Centres.

Rail Europe Processing Fee: this fee allows us to continue to provide travellers with a wide range of European rail products to choose from, in addition to offering quality customer support before, during, and after your trip.

Administrative Fee: this fee is charged only for refunds and exchanges. It is 7% of the original train ticket or rail pass price.

Q. Are there ATMs on board?

A. While there are ATMs located in most major European train stations, there are none on the trains themselves.

Q. I understand that some of the train stations in Italy now have gates. How do I get to my train?

A. Some of the high traffic train stations in Italy, such as Milan Centrale, Rome Termini, and Florence Santa Maria Novella stations now have entry/exit gates. Access through these gates is exclusively reserved for ticket holders. It is suggested that you have your print at home or print at the station ticket ready to present upon arriving at these security gates.

Q. I’m leaving for Europe within 3 days and need to buy train tickets or rail passes. What are my options?

A. Some European train operators now offer electronic ticketing. If the train you’re interested in offers this, you can buy a train ticket up until its day of travel and retrieve it locally at the station using your unique e-ticket confirmation code or by printing it at home before you leave.

Currently, e-tickets are only offered on Eurostar, Thalys, Renfe, Talgo, Italo & Trenitalia along with select German, French (including international TGVs), and British trains. This type of ticketing will be available on other routes in the near future. At this time, the only rail passes available as e-passes are the Renfe Spain Pass and Swiss Travel Pass.

All other trains, certain activity vouchers, and rail passes must be issued as a paper document and mailed to you prior to your departure. If you’re leaving within three days, you should contact us via our Contact Us page and we’ll be able to advise whether there’s enough time for you to get your train ticket or rail pass prior to your leaving for Europe.

Q. Can a rail pass be issued as an e ticket or e pass?

A. At this time, most rail passes are printed as a paper document and must be shipped to you prior to your departure to Europe. If a rail pass is offered as an e-pass this option will be offered at the time of booking. For rail passes offered as e-passes, you will need to print it out on paper prior to arriving at the train station.

Q. What is the questionnaire that comes with my rail pass? Do I have to fill it out?

A. The questionnaire (or travel report) on the ticket jacket containing your Eurail pass is a required survey used by the European railways to better understand how Eurail passes are used throughout Europe. A gift is offered by Eurail for completing and returning the questionnaire to the supplied address. Upon receiving the travel report, Eurail should send the free gift within 4-6 weeks.

Q. Are there lounges at the train station I can access with my Rail Europe tickets?

A. Some of the main train stations in larger European cities offer lounges. Access to lounges depends on the type of train ticket you have; generally a First class ticket is needed.

To learn more about lounge access for any of the above trains, we encourage you to visit the product page for the train.

Q. What do I do with my luggage?

A. Once on board you’ll need to find a place to put your bag(s). Small and medium sized bags typically fit on racks located above the seats. Larger suitcases and items can be stored in racks found near the train door entrance.

In addition, you’re responsible for your luggage. The railways assume no responsibility in case of loss or theft of baggage carried on board.

If you’re traveling on Eurostar, Thalys or a TGV, you’re limited to two large items per traveller (maximum 85cm in any one dimension), plus one small item of hand luggage. On most high speed trains there’s room for luggage above the seats and for larger items at the end of each coach.

Be advised that when traveling on Eurostar, Thalys or any French train, you must properly label your bag(s) with your first and last name. In general, it is a good idea to keep luggage tags on your baggage for easy identification.

Q. My plans have changed and I won’t be able to use my rail pass. Can I get a refund?

A. You can submit your rail pass for a refund. Please be advised that there is a 15% penalty. Only unused and unvalidated (non-activated) rail passes can be refunded. The pass must be returned to Rail Europe, along with a brief letter mentioning the original reference number of the booking. It’s strongly recommended that you send these documents by some type of traceable mail for proof of delivery.

If you purchased the Rail Protection Plan™ and your rail pass is covered, you’re eligible to receive a credit for its entire value. No fee or penalty will be applied, and you can use this credit towards any future Rail Europe purchase within 2 years. Please read more about the Rail Protection Plan™ and for instructions on how to file a claim.

Please visit our Cancellation and Refunds page for more information.

Q. What happens if my train crosses an international border during the night?

A. If you travel in a sleeper compartment, you provide the train attendant with your reservation voucher, rail pass or train ticket, and passport as you board. They can then take care of everything with conductors and customs officials so you can sleep uninterrupted.

If you travel in a regular train that just happens to cross the border at night, customs and border control officers may come directly to you and ask for your passport.

Please note that there will be no passport control (day or night) when traveling between countries that signed the Schengen Agreement. Not all countries belonging to the EU are part of the Schengen Agreement (e.g. Britain). On the flip side, some countries that are not part of the EU are part of the Schengen Agreement (e.g. Switzerland).

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